What happened
Shortly before 6 PM on Friday, June 26, 2026, a small two-seater Sunward SA 60L Aurora (registration B-12PP) crashed into Beijing’s CITIC Tower, the city's tallest building at 109 floors. The plane, owned by Shuangyue General Aviation and taking off from nearby Beijing Shifosi Airport, impacted toward the top of the skyscraper. The aircraft essentially came apart on impact, with the tail section falling to street level where a small fire was quickly contained. Damage to the building was limited to major glass panel damage on the impacted floor, with no structural damage believed. The building and surrounding areas were evacuated. International authorities have suggested the cause was pilot suicide, noting both engines were shut off. However, China has refused to reveal full details, citing national security and social stability, and has blocked much discussion on local social media. The incident draws comparisons to the March 2022 China Eastern Boeing 737 crash handling